The team behind James Orman's maiden premiership triumph

By Jordan Gerrans

The name Floyd Orman might just be one to watch in the Brisbane jockey ranks in 15 years or so.

The young son of recently crowned Brisbane metropolitan jockey's premiership winner James Orman, Floyd has certainly been bitten by the racing bug.

With parents who first met at a racing stable that competed in show jumping as youngsters, it was inevitable for Floyd.

And, it is likely to be that way with his younger sister Hallie when she gets older.

Floyd and Hallie’s presence and influence have been credited for their father’s rise up the premiership standings this most recent season, claiming his maiden title.

James’ fiancé Heidi Whalley has seen a change in his preparation to his craft since Floyd’s berth.

“He was always very dedicated to his riding but he is even more so now that we have the kids and the family life,” Whalley said.

“He loves that.

“He is such a good dad and is great with the kids, it keeps him really grounded.”

Whalley – who has her own training licence – has been around the game for much of her life, first meeting James at Kelly Schweida’s Brisbane stables.

The 25-year-old Orman has been around the mark in premiership discussions in recent years but was yet to break through and join the likes of Jim Byrne, Larry Cassidy, Michael Cahill and Ryan Maloney as active title winners riding in the Queensland metropolitan area.

After threatening one season as an apprentice, Orman feels the added responsibility of being a father – as well as being attached to some of the biggest stables in the country – aided his triumph last season.

He says the kids ensure he is grounded as a person, while also keeping him on his toes every day.

“It gives you something to work for, I am not just working for myself any more, you are working to give the two kids and my partner a good life, as well,” Orman said.

“When I leave the races, if I have had a good day or a bad day, I just come home and switch off and spend time with the family.

“I was very competitive as an apprentice one year in the senior premiership and then I sort of lost my way, a little bit, even though I was still in the top five or eight or so every year.

“I did fade away for a few seasons there, maybe I was still maturing as a rider.

“These last two seasons I have kept building my contacts and it has been a gradual rise to the top.”

Orman’s parents were entwined in the racing game – his mother Caroline Allardyce as a trainer and his father a jockey for a few years – and the baton has been passed to young Floyd as well.

When Floyd can't get to the track to watch his old man in person, he is glued to the television watching him in action.

The family are building stables at their Nudgee property for the kids to be able to ride ponies and learn the craft that has taken them so far in life.

And, when Orman leaves his whips around the house after a day at the trials or race day, Floyd will quickly snap it up and zoom around the house pretending he is about to jump out of the starting gates.

“He is horse mad and my little girl Hallie, I am sure, she will also be involved as she gets older,” Orman said.

And, what is Floyd like when Orman is at the track?

“He loves it, he loves watching Jimmy on TV, we always have the races on if are not at the races,” Whalley details.

“He runs around the house with Jimmy’s whip, hitting himself and yelling “get up”.

“I think he has the racing bug already.”

Many jockeys constantly battle with their weight but for Orman, it is always at the front of his mind.

He will often need to shed significant weight in the hours before race riding and to do so, he spends extensive periods in his newly-built home spa, which will soon have a sauna next to it once the construction has finished.

Having spent much of her life around the racing industry, Whalley is understanding of exactly what her partner needs to fight through to be able to go to work every day.

“We obviously built this house and he made the room the way he wanted it because he spends most of his time in there when he is at home,´ Whalley said

“He plays with Floyd as well, so that certainly would help his weight (laughs).”

Whalley has dipped her toes into the training ranks in recent years and Orman hopes she can pursue it further once Floyd and Hallie get older.

He praised her efforts for keeping the family on track behind the scenes as he travels around the Sunshine State chasing winners.

“We work good as a team,” he said.

“She is a big part of my success.

“She keeps the kids happy and runs everything at home.”

Orman was backed by leading barn’s such as Tony Gollan, Schweida, Chris Waller and Rob Heathcote on his way to claiming his maiden title, which included also winning the state-wide jockeys premiership, which he did in a canter.

After winning his first metro jockeys premiership, Orman has now set his sights on grabbing his maiden Group 1 triumph after going close on a number of occasions over the years.

He nabbed a couple of Group 2’s across the recent winter months in Brisbane but is still searching for the elusive elite level victory.